Book picks similar to
Hired Killer by Deborah Brown


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cozy-mysteries

The Complete Deemer: Lover Man, Lush Life, Don't Explain


Dallas Murphy - 2014
    In the Edgar-Award finalist Lover Man, Artie becomes a reluctant detective when his ex-girlfriend is killed. "The writing is flip and sophisticated," New York Times In Lush Life, Artie falls for a sexy pool player whose sleazy ex-husband has disappeared with $14 million of his company's assets. Now Artie finds himself in the middle of wild caper involving the mob and the CIA. "A bouncy, quirky, funny mystery...more twists and turns than a New York cab driver running up the meter," Washington Post In Don't Explain, Jellyroll has become the target of death threats from crazed stalkers, so Artie takes him to a remote island, only to discover their hideaway is overrun with an assortment of colorful killers. "An outstanding series," Publishers Weekly

The Deadly Jellybean Affair


Carrie Marsh - 2017
    The Deadly Jellybean Affair guarantees you another head-spinning murder mystery adventure by a retired witch. What secrets lie behind the brutal murder? And can she uncover them without drawing attention from the killer? A Retired Witch… A Cruel Murder… Can a few old tricks solve a crime? Left a very comfortable widow after her dear husband passed, Mary Tuttle has many abilities, some of which have allowed her to open the doors to her dreams, a bead shop by the name of Beads and Baubles. But when she stumbles across the body of a dead Morhollow party-girl, Mary discovers that there are much deeper secrets behind the attack of her newly hired employee, who was beaten, bruised, and hidden just out of plain sight. There is no questioning the fact that Mary is compelled to solve the case and find the killer… But she will need to return to her roots to do it. Faced with the realization she will have to dust off her spell books, consult with her domestic cat, and be sure to steer clear of the police investigation, Mary knows she will have to play things carefully to find out the truth.But she will need to return to her roots to do it. Of course, it would be a lot simpler if the Captain of the Morhollow Police Department didn’t happen to be her son. Can Mary narrow down the long list of suspects before giving herself away? Or will she take one too many risks and place herself in the sights of a killer?

Tart of Darkness


Denise Swanson - 2018
    This gives her the perfect opportunity to pursue her true passion—cooking! So Dani opens Chef-to-Go, preparing delicious, ready-made meals for hungry students attending the nearby university, as well as providing personal chef services and catering events for the local community. To help support her new business, she opens her home to a few students, renting them rooms and becoming almost like a big sister figure in their lives.But just as Dani is relishing her sweet new life, the friend of one of her boarders is murdered, and Dani becomes one of the primary suspects! She’ll have to scramble to clear her name and save her business before the killer reappears—perhaps to silence the new chef forever.

Maple Can Be Murder


Grace Lemon - 2016
    It’s just that kind of place. And things get a whole lot stickier for the residents when a businessman visiting the island ends up smothered at the local sugar bush. With maple syrup season in full swing, Ida Noe’s fudge shop is busier than a centipede at a toe counting contest – especially when she’s invited to showcase her world famous Maple Bacon Fudge at Sweeney’s Sugar Bush. All is sweet until some poor sap kicks the bucket in the sugarhouse and all fingers point to Ida’s best friend Maura Sweeney. With the help of her lumpy black Lab and origami loving friend, Ida is determined to “tap” the real killer and prove that maple can indeed be murder. Previously published as Maple Can Be Murder.

Murder Stalks a Mansion


Anne-Marie Sutton - 2003
    Innkeeper Caroline Kent becomes a detective when one of her wealthy guests is murdered.

The Hollow Places


Dean Clayton Edwards - 2014
     Simon delivers live bodies to a psychic creature in the water. He has a natural ability for the work and is even beginning to think he might enjoy it, until the creature asks for the life of his sister. He has less than 24 hours to save both their lives.

Crashing into Love


Flora Ferrari - 2021
    He’s tall and muscular, with silver hair and an intense look in his eyes, making my mouth water straight away.But this forty-three year old alpha would never want me.I’m just a twenty year old inexperienced virgin, struggling to make ends meet after my dad died and my mom succumbed to her depression.Now my car is busted and I’ve got no way to pay Conrad back.“Give me your address.”His possessive voice leaves no room for argument.I try to tell him I have no way to pay. But he claims me in the most primal and jealous way a man can, telling me I belong to him now. He knew it the moment I stepped from the car.I can’t believe it when he takes it a step further, dominating me and owning me in a way I never could’ve dreamed of.But then strange things begin to happen, making me question if I’ll get my happily-ever-after at all.Can I trust Conrad?My heart says yes. My body says hell yes.But my mind says be careful.* Crashing into Love is an insta-everything standalone instalove romance with a HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger.

The Sandy Bay Cozy Mysteries 14 Book Box Set


Amber Crewes - 2019
    Apple Pie and Trouble 2. Brownies and Dark Shadows 3. Cookies and Buried Secrets 4. Donuts and Disaster 5. Eclairs and Lethal Layers 6. Finger Foods and Missing Legs 7. Gingerbread and Scary Endings 8. Hot Chocolate and Cold Bodies 9. Ice Cream and Guilty Pleasures 10. Jingle Bells and Deadly Smells 11. King Cake and Grave Mistakes 12. Lemon Tarts and Fiery Darts 13. Muffins and Coffins 14. Nuts and a Choking Corpse APPLE PIE AND TROUBLE Meghan Truman always had a dream to become a Hollywood actress. Hollywood decided she wasn’t good enough. She left Hollywood broken but with a burning desire to start afresh in the Pacific Northwest, pursuing her second dream – opening a bakery. She never expected that the owner of a rival establishment would be found dead and all eyes would be focused on her as the prime suspect. As the new girl in town with a new bakery store, she’s determined to clear her name and find the murderer; otherwise she’ll have to leave Sandy Bay penniless and pitiful and possibly the murderer’s next victim. "I really enjoyed this and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. Thanks for a great plot and interesting characters." BROWNIES AND DARK SHADOWS When Sandy Bay’s crème de la crème congregate to raise money for charity, Meghan Truman is proud to have her tasty desserts the talk of the party. She’s not so proud when the wealthiest couple in Sandy Bay are discovered dead and rumors circulate around town that her brownies are the cause of this tragedy. This murder case casts a dark shadow over Meghan’s budding romance with handsome Officer Irvin who’s disappointed that she’s once again at the center of another murder investigation. With everything to lose, Meghan must work hard to clear her name, restore broken relationships and solve this murder mystery before everything she’s worked so hard to build comes crumbling down. "I have so enjoyed this series! Book 2 was another short fun read. The ending was a complete surprise." COOKIES AND BURIED SECRETS When a beautiful stranger sashays into a birthday party, Meghan Truman, along with other guests, is surprised to discover her relationship to the birthday celebrant. This beautiful stranger attracts more shady characters to Sandy Bay. When one of these characters is found dead in an alley, the whole town is set on edge. Will Meghan’s attempt to link the owner of a golden antique gun to the murder prove helpful to handsome Officer Irvin’s investigation or will the discovery of a buried secret lead to more murders? "Another great book in this fun series. There was a twist really early on in the book that was definitely a surprise!" DONUTS AND DISASTER Meghan Truman’s relationship with her assistant is severely tested when she becomes prideful over a donut recipe she’s introduced to Truly Sweet’s menu. Matters are further worsened when a distant relative of this assistant, with selfish intentions and bad manners, is found dead in the town center.

Southern Spooks and Spells (6 Humorous Paranormal Reads)


Deanna Chase - 2016
     By New York Times bestselling author Deanna Chase Haunted on Bourbon Street Witches of Bourbon Street By New York Times bestselling author Jana DeLeon Trouble in Mudbug Mischief in Mudbug By USA Today bestselling author Rose Pressey Forever Charmed Charmed Again Haunted on Bourbon Street: Jade loves her new apartment—until a ghost joins her in the shower. Being an empath has never been easy on Jade’s relationships. It’s no wonder she keeps her gift a secret. But when her ghost moves from harmless spooking to terrorizing her friend Pyper, it’s up to Jade to use her unique ability to save her. Except she’ll need her mysterious landlord's help to do it. Can she find a way to trust him and herself before Pyper is lost? Witches of Bourbon Street: Jade Calhoun was never fond of her empath abilities. Now she’s discovered she has another gift she’d rather not unwrap—magic. But when her mentor, Bea, becomes gravely ill and insists Jade’s the only one who can help, she’s forced to embrace her witchy side. Trouble in Mudbug: Scientist Maryse Robicheaux thought that a lot of her problems had gone away with her mother-in-law’s death. The woman was rude, pushy, manipulative and used her considerable wealth to run herd over the entire town of Mudbug, Louisiana. Unfortunately, death doesn’t slow down Helena one bit. Mischief in Mudbug: Sabine LaVeche needs to locate a blood relative fast – her life depends on it. When Helena Henry shows up offering help, Sabine knows she’s really in for trouble when it’s the best idea she’s heard in a while. When private investigator Beau Villeneuve takes on her case, things heat up in more ways than one, but as they begin to uncover the secrets of Sabine’s past, the one thing that becomes clear is that someone doesn’t want Sabine to get the answers she seeks. Forever Charmed: When Halloween inherits her great-aunt’s manor, she decides to put the house to good use as a bed-and-breakfast. Her first guest is the sinfully good-looking Nicolas Marcos, but he’s not here for the continental breakfast. Halloween discovers a ratty old book in the attic. It’s written in an unfamiliar language. Halloween soon learns this is not an ordinary spellbook. The tome brings her a new talent, but her new skills come with a catch. When a rival witch comes after the book, Halloween doesn’t know who to trust–the sexy vampire who says he wants to save the day, or the warlock who says he can destroy the book once and for all. Charmed Again: Reluctant witch Halloween LaVeau never guessed that inheriting LaVeau Manor would be so difficult. Sure, she was named Worst Witch of the Year, but her botched spell-casting is all behind her now, right? Everything changed after discovering the ancient Book of Mystics. She's now the leader of the Underworld... whatever that means. Apparently, she's in charge of keeping order within the paranormal world. If that wasn't enough, Halloween--or Hallie as she prefers to be called--has two gorgeous men making her life even more confusing. The sexy vampire Nicolas Marcos has been accused of stealing another witch's powers. With the help of Nicolas' brother, the good-looking warlock Liam Rankin, Hallie must discover if Nicolas is guilty as charged. How will she navigate this Underworld?

Thicker Than Water


Michael McDonnell - 2012
    This peaceful life is upended when death comes to town. And not just any death. O'Hara's career is on the line as the corpse of a US Senator is found. The Senator, while searching for his ancestors, has uncovered an old, still burning hatred from the time of the Great Famine. Dermot needs all the help he can get to solve the crime but as he starts to unravel the mystery it becomes clear that those around him are not what they seem. This first book in the series introduces us to Dermot, his long suffering wife Jo and his disreputable friends in the local bar.

No Game For a Dame


M. Ruth Myers - 2011
     Moving through streets where people line up at soup kitchens, Maggie draws information from sources others overlook: The waitress at the dime store lunch counter where she has breakfast; a ragged newsboy; the other career girls at her rooming house. Her digging gets her chloroformed and left in a ditch behind the wheel of her DeSoto. She makes her way to an upscale bordello and gets tea – and information – from the madam herself. A gunman puts a bullet through Maggie’s hat. Her shutterbug pal on the evening paper warns her off. A new cop whose presence unsettles her thinks she’s crooked. Before she finds all the answers she needs, she faces a half-crazed man with a gun, and a far more lethal point-blank killer. If you like Robert B. Parker's hard boiled Spencer series and strong women sleuths, don't miss this one-of-a-kind Ohio detective from a time in United States history when dames wore hats -- but seldom a Smith & Wesson.

Witch Is How To Find Your Magic


R.K. Dreaming - 2020
    She has a great new job and a fab new apartment and is determined to leave all that silly childhood witchy stuff behind her. After all, magic isn’t real. Surely she was imagining it?But then Cecily’s new flatmate Lola goes missing following a murder and magic might be the only thing that will save her. Cecily isn’t the only one investigating. Her dreamy new boss Detective Storm is also on the case. Cecily is determined to prove her worth and find Lola, and all without revealing her magic. That shouldn’t be hard… Because magic isn’t real, remember?

The Mermaid Next Door


H.P. Mallory - 2021
    We’re considered valuable as breeders until we reach our mid-thirties, at which time we’re deemed no longer useful.Good thing for me I’m forty, never had any children and I’m a widow. So, I can basically live my life as I see fit.Until my husband’s younger brother, Cullen, decides to make me his wife… one of seven.Cullen has a mean streak a mile wide and he’s always been obsessed with me—ever since we were young. Now that his older brother is out of the way, he recognizes his chance to finally possess me.Only I’m the type of woman who won’t accept my fate so easily. No, I’m a fighter by nature so when it’s decreed that I should marry Cullen, I do the only thing I can do.I escape. To the land.Once I reach the shore, I’m facing a whole new and terrifyingly unfamiliar world. Luckily I’ve got the Siren’s Song which encourages humans to do whatever I want them to.Except my song doesn’t work on one human male in particular, Sawyer Ray.And Sawyer just happens to be the one man I need, because I’m fairly certain someone has come after me…

Mutiny on the Bayou


Shari Hearn - 2015
    While there they search for clues proving the judge who sentenced them received kickbacks from the company running the camp. But they soon discover a crooked judge is the least of their concerns.Someone may have been murdered.Join Gertie, Fortune and Ida Belle as they try to solve the mystery of The Mutiny on the Bayou (Sinful Stories Book 2).A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR: Mutiny on the Bayou was first published on September 18, 2015 as part of the Miss Fortune Kindle Worlds program (which ended in July of 2018). It is now part of the Miss Fortune World published by J&R Fan Fiction. I wish to thank Ms. DeLeon for graciously allowing other writers to explore their own writing in a most Sinful way.Sinful Stories is a series of stories written by Shari Hearn within the Miss Fortune World featuring Fortune, Gertie and Ida Belle. They may be read in any order; however, they do follow the timeline of Jana DeLeon's Miss Fortune series with regard to Fortune's relationship with Carter. With the earlier books in the series, Carter doesn't know Fortune's true identity. As Jana DeLeon's series changes with regard to Fortune's continued threat from Ahmad, future stories within Sinful Stories will reflect those changes.Currently, the stories within Sinful Stories include:Nearly DepartedMutiny on the BayouOverdueNearly BelovedRematchLeaving SinfulMurder on the Sinful Express

The Seaside Detective Agency (The Isle of Man #1)


J.C. Williams - 2018
    You will not read a funnier mystery this year! ‘Eyes Peeled’ is the Isle of Man’s first and only Detective Agency. Not much happens on the idyllic Island that needs detecting, so, on the whole, the team is not the most adept. In fact, generally speaking, they’re pretty useless. One of the agency’s more eager employees is Sam Levy. Nearing forty, he’s finally found a job he actually loves – even if he isn’t particularly good at it. Okay, let’s be honest. He’s rubbish. Still, Sam’s services are secured by persons unknown to track down a glamorous, yet mysterious, art dealer recently arrived on the sleepy Island. Her arrival itself isn’t overly suspicious... but the international crime boss hot on her tail most certainly is! Sam is desperate to prove himself and impress his pretty colleague, Abby, but this investigation could end up putting him in rather a spot of bother, with our hero risking life, limb, and hairpiece! With this case, he could have bitten off more than he can chew.